Introduction
Thomas Hone wrote the article “Replacing Battleships with Aircraft Carriers in the Pacific in World War II,” which appeared in the 2013 edition of the Naval War College Review. The article details the development of the combined force in the US Pacific Fleet during the Second World War. It highlights the importance of integrating various task groups within the group to allow effective coordination and communication. In addition, the article focuses on Admiral Spruance’s role in achieving overall success.
Further, it analytically evaluates Admiral Halsey’s Operation Plan 14-44, which gives an insight into the transformation of naval warfare during the war. This essay will critically analyze this article to understand the integration of technology, tactics, and human resources to form a cohesive fighting force.
The author’s argument in the article highlights various actions taken to create a combined force during the war. By examining the researcher’s claims and supporting evidence, this essay will describe the multifaceted actions taken to make a modern combined arms force and evaluate its strategic significance.
Analysis of the Article
Strategies Applied in the Pacific Front During WWII
One of the key issues that the author highlights is the importance of integrating the multiple task groups within the Pacific Fleet to ensure effective coordination and communication. According to the author, the doctrine of independent control of fighters’ direction posited by TF1-1 was central to optimizing the combat effectiveness of the new combined force formed during the Second World War (Hone 70). This approach ensured that friendly fire incidents were avoided and operational efficiency was achieved. Since the beginning of the conflict, friendly fire incidents have been a recurring issue due to problems with coordination.
Consequently, by emphasizing coordination and communication, field commanders would know where friendly and unfriendly units were located and precisely target them without harming friendly units. In addition, by meticulously coordinating the actions of various task groups, the Pacific Fleet was able to maximize its firepower against the Japanese forces. Thus, the author illustrates the significance of using combined arms in conflict by highlighting the success of this strategy by the US’s Pacific fleet against the Japanese Imperial Army in the Second World War.
The article also highlights another ingenious strategy employed by Admiral Spruance during the conflict. Specifically, the author notes that the admiral opted to shield the amphibious assault forces rather than engage directly with the Japanese carrier force. Despite facing opposition, the author notes that Admiral Spruance’s strategy aligned with the Central Pacific campaign, whose aim was to establish a US land-based aviation fighting force near the Islands owned by Japan. The aim of this strategy was the gradual wear-down of the enemy and the eventual creation of conditions for frontal assaults using aviation (Hone 72).
This strategy recognized that the Japanese forces would have sought a decisive fleet engagement after they wore down the carrier aviation. Thus, Spruance exhibited strategic thinking by avoiding an uncertain decisive battle. Instead, he created a counterforce that combined specialists from various divisions that ultimately prevailed in the conflict. Hence, understanding the broader strategic goals and a keen consideration of the long-term impacts enabled the American success in the campaign against the Japanese forces in the Pacific during the Second World War.
Operation Plan 14-44
The author also delves into Operation Plan 14-44, which another great admiral, Admiral Halsey, designed. Operation Plan 14-44 was developed to capture Peleliu in the Palau Islands and isolate the Philippines. The tactical aim of this plan was the isolation of a huge Japanese garrison in the Philippines and its destruction. This plan emphasized the use of various and characteristically different forces to achieve decisive engagements with the Japanese Fleet. Specifically, the author notes that Mitscher’s carrier task force was responsible for seeking out the enemy for subsequent destruction using concentrated strikes.
Additionally, Vice Admiral Lee’s Task Force 34 and Rear Admiral Ainsworth’s Task Force 35 were assigned different roles depending on the actions of the Japanese Fleet (Hone 71). The specific tasks assigned to the various task forces and their successful completion highlighted the first successes of the new fighting strategy. These army task forces represented hybrid armies that were self-sustaining and, as such, effective against an enemy engaged in traditional warfare. Thus, the actions and success of these army groups show the importance of planning, coordinating, and utilizing various naval assets at the disposal of a fighting force.
Summary
The creation of a combined fighting force in the Pacific during the Second World War resulted from successfully integrating tactics, technology, and human resources. A critical analysis of the author’s claims and supporting evidence highlights the evolution of the Navy’s approach to warfare with a conditional enemy. In particular, the shift from a carrier-focused force to a combined arms fleet with a land-based air component played a central role in the success of the Navy’s war with the Japanese forces in the Second World War.
The strategic approach of engaging in decisive battles while at the same time conducting amphibious attacks and the establishment of a land-based air component within range of Japanese cities was critical to the success of the Pacific fleet. The pioneers of the combined force effectively utilized it against the Japanese forces that were relying on the fighting tactics of the First World War. Despite their aggressive resistance, they could not match the ingenuity of a combined force. Thus, the author establishes that the Pacific fleet’s success resulted from effective coordination, meticulous planning, and enormous support infrastructure.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “Replacing Battleships with Aircraft Carriers in the Pacific in World War II” gives invaluable insights into the success of the Pacific Fleet during World War II. By critically analyzing the claims in the article and the supporting evidence, one can deduce the role played by combined forces in the outcome of that war, especially in the Pacific Theater. The successful combination of technology, tactics, and people resulted in a resounding success for the American forces against the Imperial Japanese Navy and, as such, heralded a new era in naval warfare.
By leveraging the various strengths of different army units in a combined force, the US successfully countered the Japanese in the Second World War and created an entirely new and effective fighting method. Modern armies have broadly adopted the combined arms strategy to engage enemies successfully. Thus, understanding the strategies employed by the Pacific Fleet allows one to gain insights into modern naval operations and project future developments.
Work Cited
Hone, Thomas C. C. “Replacing Battleships with Aircraft Carriers in the Pacific in World War II.” U.S. Naval War College Review, vol. 66, no. 1, 2013, pp. 56-76.